Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion is written by Chelsea Durre.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5 NIV).

Have you ever heard the quote “be the reason someone believes in God”? If this is your first time, let those words sink in. When I first read that quote, it made me think of all the people in the world who do NOT know God, and it made me sad. How do people live this life without the Lord?! Philippians 4:5 places some responsibility in our hands as Christians, and it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

Part of my job as an entrepreneur is having conversations with others and making a lot of friends. In those conversations, my faith comes up a lot. I’m not one to minimize how God has pulled me out of some tough places, and I never miss an opportunity to share that with others. You never know what may resonate with someone with needs seeking help you know the Lord can provide. In return, I have received some responses that have broken my heart. Responses like, I stopped going to church because I didn’t feel welcome; no one ever spoke to me, and I felt so awkward; I was having a lot of struggles, and it seemed like everyone there had perfect lives; I just didn’t fit in. Ultimately, it was a missed opportunity for a new relationship with God.

Philippians 4:5 tells us that our gentleness should be evident to all. I imagine this verse to mean that we shouldn’t respond harshly to others, but I also think it means we should have a softness about us that is intriguing to those longing for love and connection.

This week, I encourage you to practice gentleness. Pause, listen, ask someone if they need any prayers, don’t judge, save someone a seat next to you, introduce yourself, smile, and make eye contact. The Church is the Logo, its members are the business cards, and how you make others feel is the Church’s trademark. Go make disciples.

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OHSOFREE Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.